The welfare district in Central Finland will close its laundry service in Pihtipudas by year-end. This facility currently handles washing for healthcare clients in Pihtipudas and nearby Viitasaari. Three employees work at the laundry located in the health station's lower level.
The closure results from cooperation negotiations concluded in July. The welfare district's board approved the decision on August 12. This forms part of the district's cost-saving measures.
What happens to the laundry staff? One worker returns to their previous unit locally after several years. Another transfers to Viitasaari as an institutional caretaker. The third faces dismissal for production and economic reasons.
Henna Tikkasaari, director of cleaning and food services, explained the transition. "We currently wash textiles for residential service clients in Pihtipudas and Viitasaari. Aquatex Ab Oy will handle this service going forward," she said in a statement. The company won the contract through public competitive bidding.
This move reflects the ongoing consolidation of public services across Finnish regions. While cost-saving drives these decisions, they inevitably disrupt local employment and service patterns.